The real deal on first year earnings for solo driver

I pull over 77k at least 90% of my loads, and its not BS. Granted under the current legal frame for training, there are carriers that put unqualified people in the seat as a trainer. But - and you should know this - rookie drivers with no experience are much more likely to be involved in an accident that say YOU are.

 

The way i read the question, I didn't think he meant a company that wont make him go thru ANY type of training. I took it more as he was trying to avoid the ones that do their own few weeks of training for those without their CDL yet. maybe i just read it wrong

 

If that's what he meant it's a smart move . Why get $300 a week to be a codriver for a month or more ?
Bad trainers have probably had more rookies that made it that far quit than anything else . Newbies also risk having a trainer with a bad attitude reject them and they're stuck with a career ending negative DAC .

 

Opinons vary a lot because the pay varies more than that! It's great your paying for your school, but the only thing they "train" you for is to pass the CDL test. Most drivers go to a student company, as insurance limits your choices with most others. A handful of students find smaller companies that will hire them, but they are a needle in the haystack. The real thing you should be asking about is what GOOD companies will hire you. For real cash for new drivers, the oil fields seem to be where it's at.

 

80,000 lbs is BS? Huh?

I am at 80,000 with my reefer more times than not.

The mass destruction line may a little over the top though........

 

Have you seen what 80,000 lbs will do when parked on top of a Prius?

 

O.K. , now I get it . Your degree of potential mass destruction is similar to what Bush used to justify attacking Iraq

 

Yeah, but it made all those pro-wrestling fan, fanatic, red-neck beer-swilling morons real happy to beat up on a little country that had no involvement in 9/11 and with no ability to attack us! How else are you going to keep a no-clue mob pacified?? Throw 'em the head of insane hussein!

 

Iron Pony has a really good point.
Companies that hire CDL graduates, put them in a truck the first couple days out and turn them loose on the highways should be banned.
There is more than driving around the block a couple times with a DMV examiner to being a driver.
While some of the training companies do poor jobs, others do great jobs and prepare the candidate to be at least semi functional on the road. (no pun intended).
How many times have we seen a rooking struggling to park in a truck stop, back into a gate or simply keep it in the lane heading down the highway?
And those are usually someone who's spent some time with a trainer.
Any new driver that wants to head out without spending a month or so with a trainer is either very naive or just plain dangerous.

 

Yes I have and both were charcoal...

My gross weight is typically in the 79k range. It's not real often I get to actually fill my fuel tanks. Seems to be the fate of a reefer hauler..

As for the 30-40k range I will be just shy of the 40k mark my first year and I work for what y'all consider one of dem der bottom feeders. I did it as a company driver too.

If I was just a bit smarter at the start of the year I might have made it to 45k. So it can be done..